Some experts think that the adverse publicity resulting from congressional hearings could ultimately force Hegseth to resign or be removed from office.
If the situation appears damaging to the White House and detracts from its media focus, President Trump may be inclined to distance himself from the officials to avoid negative coverage, said David Miller, a political science professor and expert on the presidency at American University in Washington DC. “That could be a win for the Democrats,” he added.
Richard Painter, a former White House ethics lawyer under President George W. Bush, told the BBC that the decision to begin the conflict should be subjected to scrutiny.
He emphasized that the fundamental problem is the war’s lack of authorization by the United States Congress, regardless of who holds the defense post.
He noted that the Constitution grants Congress the power to declare war and urged legislators to compel officials to appear and answer questions.
Pentagon Press Secretary Kingsley Wilson issued a statement defending Hegseth’s record, describing him as a “transformative leader” who has “cut through bureaucracy, fostered innovation, and delivered results for service members.”
She asserted that “by every measurable metric, the Department of War is performing better under Secretary Hegseth’s leadership than before,” reflecting the administration’s terminology for the Defense Department.
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